MR. MCCLELLAN: Good afternoon, everybody. Let me start by going
back through the President's day. The President participated in the
Second Annual National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast this morning and made
remarks. Then the President had his usual intelligence briefings upon
returning to the White House. And as all of you just saw, the
President participated in the Annual Peace Officers Memorial Service,
where he made remarks and, on behalf of a grateful nation, paid tribute
to our peace officers, our men and women who have fallen in the line of
duty.

This afternoon the President -- well, right now he's on his way
back to the White House, where he'll participate in some policy
briefings and tend to other official business.

A couple of issues I want to bring up before getting into
questions. Earlier today, African ambassadors and the African
Diplomatic Corps participated in a news conference with Senator Frist,
and I would like to read some portions of the letter that all of these
ambassadors in the Diplomatic Corps signed. It's regarding the
President's emergency HIV-AIDS plan.

"The African ambassadors and the entire African Diplomatic Corps on
the United States are united in their efforts to highlight the urgency
for action against the impending menace of HIV-AIDS. More than 30
million people have died from AIDS in the last two decades, nearly as
many as the entire population of South Africa. And additional 40
million people are infected with the virus, mostly in Africa and the
Caribbean."

It goes on to say, "We need the help of the American people and the
international community to turn back this disease. President Bush's
proposed emergency plan for AIDS relief is an important, aggressive
step forward in this effort. We hope that the Senate will take up and
pass the House bill, and stop the spiral of this killer. We, the
ambassadors of Africa, hope that the U.S. Senate will soon give
President Bush the authority and the funding to put his plan fully into
effect. Every day another 14,000 people are infected, and another
8,500 die. Time is of the essence. America must send a signal to the
rest of the world that action by all countries is needed in the war
against AIDS."

The President is very appreciative of the statement by the African
ambassadors. The fight against AIDS is a moral imperative that America
and countries across the world must confront decisively and boldly.
And we hope that the Senate will move forward quickly on the
President's emergency plan for AIDS relief, so that we can provide
treatment, care -- treatment and care for millions of people
suffering from AIDS, and improving prevention programs for millions who
are at risk.

One other item on the legislative agenda today, the Senate is
moving forward on the President's jobs and growth tax act -- or on
the jobs and growth tax act, I should say that the President has
outlined a number of initiatives that, all of which elements are
contained in this plan. We are pleased that they are working quickly
to get it passed, so that it can get to the conference committee and
differences can be resolved quickly.

I think we have seen over the last few months a greater urgency on
the need to enact the President's plan for creating jobs and economic
growth, and we hope Congress will continue to act as quickly as
possible to pass as robust a plan as possible, so that we can create as
many jobs as possible.

And with that, I will be happy to take your questions. Helen.

Q Is that the tax cut you're talking about?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Yes, this is about --

Q -- you called it jobs and growth?

MR. MCCLELLAN: It's about job creation and economic growth.
That's what this is about.

Q Oh, not about a tax cut? (Laughter.)

MR. MCCLELLAN: As the President has noted, Helen -- (laughter)
-- that by the end of next year, under his plan, more than a million
jobs will be created.

Q Does he have any figures that show that tax cuts really do
promote growth?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, I think our last tax relief package came at
just at the right time, when we were in the middle of a recession that
he inherited. And those tax cuts came just at the right time to get
our economy growing again. It's not growing as fast as we want and the
President is not satisfied because there are too many people out of
work. And that's all the more reason people need to act on what he
outlined. He outlined a specific plan to create more jobs and get our
economy growing. And Congress is moving quickly and we hope they will
continue to do so.

MR. MCCLELLAN: John, I don't think there's any basis in fact to
it. I think Secretary Powell stated it well recently when he talked
about how the United States and France have been in marriage counseling
for the last 200 years. France is an ally. They are still friends of
ours, despite our differences. And we will continue to work with
France on areas of common interest.

Q But this letter that Ambassador Levitte is going to send to
the administration and to Congress, you think it's much ado about
nothing?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, I'm not aware, one, that we have received a
letter. I saw the news reports that you did, which indicated that some
organized campaign. And there's just no basis in fact in that.

Q You don't deny a friction, though, do you between the two
countries, in view of the U.N. --

MR. MCCLELLAN: No, in fact, I think I just mentioned that with my
comments a minute ago that we have had some differences. But we are
looking forward to areas where we can continue to work together.
They're a friend and an ally despite the differences we have had.

Q So if I could just finish that up, so the White House sees no
need to monitor the U.S. media for any campaign of misinformation
against France?

MR. MCCLELLAN: I would never monitor the actions of the U.S.
media, John.

Q You monitor them all the time, but it's usually just
collecting information.

MR. MCCLELLAN: Look, that's an issue for -- that's a
freedom-of-the-press issue. And again, there's just no basis for the
claim.

MR. MCCLELLAN: Let me take the first part of your question, and
come to the second part of your question. We expect full cooperation
in the investigation, and I think all indications are from the FBI
assessment team that Saudi Arabia is cooperating. I think Saudi Arabia
officials, high-level officials have acknowledged and recognized that
terrorism has hit their soil, and that not only American lives were
lost, but Saudi lives were lost, as well as other countries, and that
they need to face up to these threats and take action. Saudi Arabia
has provided good cooperation with us on the war on terrorism, but
there is more that can be done.

In response to your second question about security measures that
are currently being taken, I think that that's a question you really
need to direct to officials on the ground in Saudi Arabia. Our people
are on the ground. They can brief you, as well as Saudi officials.
But that's happening thousand miles away from here, and I think they're
the best ones in position to brief you on that.

Q So is your answer that, yes, the FBI assessment team has been
given the access it wants to the site?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, again, that's part of the investigation.
That's part of what's going on, as I said, thousands of miles away from
this podium. They're in much better position to address those issues,
those specific issues, there on the ground than I am here at this
podium.

Q And the White House hasn't asked about this --

MR. MCCLELLAN: But we expect full cooperation. The indications
are from the FBI that we are getting good cooperation from Saudi
officials in the initial stages of this investigation.

I want to remind everybody that our immediate focus and our
immediate priority is to assist the victims of the attack and their
families. This was a despicable attack, and we mourn the loss of
American lives. We mourn the lives that were lost of innocent people
from other countries, as well, including Saudi Arabia. And the State
Department has been leading our effort in this regard, to help assist
victims and their families.

MR. MCCLELLAN: I think if you look at the full context of
Secretary Powell's remarks, one, he was responding to a specific
question. But our position is very clear. The regime of Saddam
Hussein is gone; the sanctions are no longer needed. This is about
helping the Iraqi people, helping the Iraqi people realize a better
future. And they have suffered through 30 years of a brutal, ruthless
regime. With the regime gone, there is no reason to do anything other
than lift the sanctions, so that the Iraqi people can become fully
integrated into the global economy.

We believe the sanctions should be lifted as soon as possible, and
we intend to pursue a vote at the Security Council as early as next
week, as Ambassador Negroponte indicated yesterday. But I believe the
Secretary was very clear in saying that we want the sanctions lifted,
and lifted as soon as possible.

Q If you suspend them, would it help get the resolution through
the Security Council?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, again, we believe the sanctions should be
lifted. And the atmosphere in New York, the atmosphere in capitals
around the globe has been very positive. And we will continue to press
forward to lift those sanctions. There's no reason for these sanctions
to stay in place. We're talking about the economic well-being of the
Iraqi people. We're talking about a brighter future for the Iraqi
people, and beginning that future now by helping them and opening up
their markets to trade to the global economy. And it's important that
we get -- that we assist the Iraqi people as quickly as possible, and
lift these sanctions.

Q Without going through U.N., you mean, you could do it
unilaterally?

MR. MCCLELLAN: No, we're pursuing this through the U.N., Helen,
that's what we're doing. And we will seek to pursue a vote on this as
early as next week.

MR. MCCLELLAN: Les, I think that's a question you need to direct
to Central Command or the Pentagon. That's a matter you need to
address them.

Q The President is concerned, isn't he?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Absolutely. We've stated our --

Q And the second part is, Amy Waters Yarsinske, who was a
former Naval Reserve Intelligence Officer, says in her book on the
Speicher incident that the Clinton administration basically abandoned
Speicher by ignoring evidence of his survival and failure to take
action to rescue him. Does the President support Senator Pat Roberts'
and Senator Bill Nelson's efforts to have an independent investigation
into how the government failed Scott Speicher and was involved?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Les, this is a matter we're still pursuing. I
think the specific questions are best directed to the Pentagon or
Central Command about our efforts. Our thoughts are obviously with his
family, as well.

Let me go on to Dana.

Q Scott, back on the French issue. What the French are saying
is that the reason why they're putting this letter out there and this
list of eight complaints is because they have an image problem that has
the potential to spill over and do more than just image problem, but
economic problem, boycotts and so forth. What is the administration's
position on that, and specifically on the boycotts that have been going
on just by American people, the American people not buying French
products? What we see on Capitol Hill, "freedom fries," and so forth
-- and also, they're worried that there's some legislation moving
through Congress that could hurt the French. What is the White House
position?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Our position is that we're looking forward. We
have had some past differences, and we want to look forward. This is
-- France is a friend, they are an ally, and we have a longstanding
relationship there. There are many areas of common interest where we
can work together, and we're moving forward. That's our -- that's
where we are.

Q But if American citizens have decided, based on these reports
that they've read, not to buy French products, what does the White
House think about that?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, I think the American people make their own
decisions about what they buy or what they don't buy.

Q So the White House isn't discouraging that?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, the White House -- I can tell you, I can
speak for the White House. The American people make their own
decisions, but the White House is focused on the future and focused on
how we can work together in the future, and move beyond some of these
past disagreements.

MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, IAEA is in the middle of -- they're still
finishing up their report about Iran and its nuclear weapon program.
And we're looking forward to seeing that report and assessing it. But
the fact that Iran is pursuing -- or has a nuclear weapons program
that they're pursuing is a concern to us. And it has been a concern.
It's one of many concerns we have about the Iranian government.

Q The Russians didn't say that they were going to stop their
cooperation with Iran. So is more stringent IAEA control adequate to
address the administration's concerns about the program?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, I think, first, Iran has openly admitted that
it is pursuing a complete nuclear fuel cycle. And we've rejected their
past claims that they're doing this for peaceful purposes. They
admitted that they are constructing a secret uranium enrichment plant
and a heavy water plant only after it had no choice because they had
been made public by an Iranian opposition group.

There is no economic justification for a state rich in oil and gas
like Iran to build hugely expensive nuclear fuel cycle facilities. And
we have made clear to the IAEA to other governments and to the public
that we strongly support a rigorous IAEA examination of Iran's nuclear
activities. They've been looking at this. They're supposed to bring a
report forward soon, and we look forward to assessing it at that
point.

Q You don't have an assessment at this point. You'll wait
until the IAEA --

MR. MCCLELLAN: We went to see the report, and we have some serious
concerns about Iran's nuclear weapons program.

MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, marriage penalty relief, the President
believes we ought to be encouraging marriage. And I've personally
heeded that message. (Laughter.) In terms of specifics about action
in Congress, right now the Senate is debating the economic growth and
jobs act that they have put forward. It contains many elements -- it
contains all the elements of what the President outlined. But we are
continuing to push for what the President outlined, which is the
complete elimination of dividends. And we will continue to push that.
It's an unfair double-taxation and it needs to be eliminated. As you
mentioned, we are also pursuing the rate reductions and marriage
penalty relief and increase in the child tax credit.

Q Yes, but the White House has long since given up on the whole
package. The President has already said $550 billion -- at least
$550 billion. But clearly, the biggest plan you're going to get is
$550 billion. There's not a chance in the world you're going to get
more than that. So obviously, you're going to have to give up
something. And in the Senate today, push is coming to shove on what
you have to give up, where they're only going for $350 billion. So are
you willing, for instance, to accept tax increases on workers overseas
if that's what it takes to get more benefits on the dividend tax cut?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Yes, that's getting into questions of offsets that
are being proposed in the Senate. Again, I'm not going to stand up
here and negotiate from the podium. The President's budget had some
offsets of $11 billion in it, as well, that was focused on closing some
tax loopholes --

Q So you're not --

MR. MCCLELLAN: But what we're going to do is continue to fight for
as robust a plan as possible, because it means as many jobs as possible
that can be created. And that's what we're going to continue to fight
for. We're fighting for the plan that the President outlined. We're
working closely with Congress. Obviously, there is give-and-take
during the process. This is going to be headed -- this will be
headed to conference committee soon. There will be some competing
plans. And we hope that those differences will be resolved quickly,
and that they pass as robust a plan as possible, and pass all elements
of the President's plan for tax relief, because it means more jobs.

Q So the White House has no preference whatsoever on the
outcome of the Senate, which is obviously engaged in trade-offs?

MR. MCCLELLAN: We want as robust a plan as possible. And we are
working closely with the Senate on all these issues, as it's moving
through the process. Then it's going to move to conference committee
and we'll continue to work closely with members of Congress to pass as
robust a plan as possible.

Q But the most robust plan the Senate has been able to come up
has in it a proposal for a tax increase on workers overseas. The White
House is neutral on a tax increase on workers overseas in order to give
a dividend tax cut here at home?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Again, that's getting into questions -- that's
offsets, so you can reduce taxes. That's something that is typically
brought up when you're talking about cutting taxes. There are offsets
that are pushed and there are offsets being pushed. But I'm not going
to stand up here and get into all the legislative minutia that's going
on on the Hill right now. We're working closely with them and we're
fighting for the plan that the President outlined.

MR. MCCLELLAN: I'm not aware of those reports. I don't have
anything on that.

Q You're not aware of them?

MR. MCCLELLAN: No, I'm not.

Q Can you get back to us on that?

MR. MCCLELLAN: I'll see what I can find out.

Q And secondly, the President said while he was in Missouri
that he wasn't paying much attention to the Texas redistricting
dispute. But Tom DeLay says that the President -- he told the
President about it and the President encouraged him. Which is it?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, there are a lot of private conversations that
the President has with members of Congress, but I think the President
addressed it the other day when he was asked, and he expressed his
confidence in the leadership of the governor and the state of Texas.

Q Do you think that the resources of the Homeland Security
Department should be used in a dispute like this?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, now you're trying to get into speculative
reports about a member of Congress, and --

Q But it was --

MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, I'm not aware of that. You're bringing it up
in the context of his question. And I don't think -- without any
information, that I can comment on it from this podium.

Q But do you think, in general, that is an appropriate use of
the homeland security resources?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Again, this is getting into a speculative question
regarding a member of Congress.

Q It's a principled question.

MR. MCCLELLAN: But this is tying it to that. And what's your
specific question on it?

Q Should the resources of the Homeland Security -- the
federal Homeland Security Department be used to end a political dispute
in a state?

MR. MCCLELLAN: I have no knowledge that that's happening, so I
don't -- let me go to Mark.

Q Let me follow that up. Specifically, Tom DeLay has said that
he has consulted an attorney in his office to determine if FBI agents
and U.S. marshals can be used to round up these stray Democrats.

Q I realize that, but there is a broad policy issue at stake
here that the White House certainly must have a view on. Should any
federal resources, any federal law enforcement resources or the
Homeland Security Department be used to round up stray legislators?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Again, Mark, I'll look into this and I'll see what
else we have on it. I just -- I don't have any information on this,
and it's getting into a question regarding a specific member of
Congress that I just don't have any information on.

Q Actually, can we stay on that that --

MR. MCCLELLAN: Let me go to Goyle, and I'll come back to you.
I'll come back to you in a minute.

Q Scott, two quick questions. One, even before 9/11 took
place, Saudi money and Pakistan training took place as far as terrorism
is concerned. And that was proven by 9/11. And that practice is still
going on, and that's why the Americans and people around the world,
they have no faith in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. So now -- what's
going on now in Saudi Arabia, as far as the investigation is concerned,
but future attacks when the President said so many times that we will
make sure nothing will happen now in the future, as far as terrorism is
concerned, and we will not live in fear. But now we are living under
fear, and terrorism is still alive, Osama bin is still alive.

MR. MCCLELLAN: No, you bring up a very good point. I think the
attacks on Monday are a vivid and tragic reminder that the war on
terrorism continues. It continues across the world. This is a global
war that requires a global response. And that's what we've been waging
since the attacks of September 11th. And everybody needs to
participate to the fullest extent possible. We will -- the best way
to win the war on terrorism is to go after the killers where they are,
find them and bring them to justice. And we are doing that, and we are
doing that with the support of a very broad coalition all across the
world.

Q Let me follow just a bit?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Let me -- one more.

Q Last week, Mr. Brajesh Mishra, national security advisor to
the Prime Minister of India, was here at the White House. He had a
private conversation with the President in the Oval Office for over 15
minutes. And at the same time, Deputy Secretary Armitage was in the
area in the Indian subcontinent. So any idea what they discussed or
what's going --

MR. MCCLELLAN: No, I don't have a readout on that. I think Dr.
Rice had a briefing yesterday at the foreign policy center and touched
on that subject. Obviously, we're pleased with some of the steps going
in the region in terms of improved dialogue, increased dialogue and
efforts to reduce tensions in the region. And that's important, and we
welcome those steps.

Q Getting back to the topic we were on a minute ago, the
Department of Homeland Security, broadly speaking, was created to deal
with domestic terrorist threats --

MR. MCCLELLAN: Right.

Q -- within the continental U.S. Without getting into a
page-by-page inspection of that law for any loopholes, is it the White
House's general understanding that its purpose would be to combat all
sources of terrorism within the United States? And if the answer to
that question is yes --

MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, the department was created because its top
priority is to protect the American people, protect the homeland.

Q Right. And so --

MR. MCCLELLAN: But there are other priorities at the Department of
Homeland Security, as well.

Q Right. Would those priorities include potentially rounding
up people --

MR. MCCLELLAN: No, I understand. We're trying to go back to these
reports that I have no information on. I think those questions are
best addressed to the Congressman's office. I have no information on
those reports, whatsoever.

Q -- he was right or wrong, Scott.

Q And you all run Homeland Security.

Q And it's your department.

Q It's your department.

MR. MCCLELLAN: Yes, and the priority of the --

Q And so you all need to answer whether you think --

MR. MCCLELLAN: The priority of the Homeland Security Department is
--

Q -- federal tax dollars should be used for this.

MR. MCCLELLAN: -- to protect the American people. Let's go on.

Q Okay, I actually have a second unrelated question. Which was
last year, particularly in the weeks before the election, the President
went around the country talking about the need to make the tax cuts
permanent, how a Republican majority on Congress would help him do
that. His message on that was very clear. One of the things now being
talked about up on the Hill is making dividend tax cuts temporary.
Isn't that a contradiction? Or is that an agreement the White House is
willing to make? Is he willing to go back on what he was saying last
year in order to get a tax cut --

MR. MCCLELLAN: There are efforts on the Hill to eliminate the
double-taxation of dividends. And that's important. And there's some
progress being made on that front, and we'll continue to work with
members on that. The President believes that we ought to eliminate the
double-taxation on dividends. It's unfair to tax people after the
corporate profits have been taxed. And we believe that that tax should
be completely done away with. We've made that very clear.

Q If part of the compromise is to make temporary, will he come
back later, perhaps even later this year, in an effort to take another
bite out of the apple, make it permanent?

MR. MCCLELLAN: That's speculating about future activities. It's
still working its way through Congress. It would be premature to draw
conclusions at this point. We're fighting for what the President
outlined.

MR. MCCLELLAN: Look, this is a matter that is being addressed in
the state of Texas. This is a matter before the Texas legislature.
The President has responded to questions about this and said he has
confidence in the governor and his leadership.

Q So can you cite an example --

MR. MCCLELLAN: I mean, you're trying to draw me into a Texas
legislative battle. We're focused on the priorities that are happening
here.

Q We're not drawing you into a Texas battle. We're trying to
find out if the President doesn't want to see homeland security
resources drained to deal with something totally unrelated for what
that department --

MR. MCCLELLAN: Let me make it clear, there should never ben
inappropriate use of any federal resources. Let me make that very
clear.

Q It seems to be a very small number of people as to not make
it look like they're taking over the investigation. Do you feel you
will get full cooperation from the Saudis? Because you didn't get that
during the Kobar Towers investigation.

MR. MCCLELLAN: I indicated that earlier in response to Ann's
question, that we expect full cooperation in the investigation. And
the indications are we are getting good cooperation in the initial
stages of this investigation. It's, obviously, just getting underway,
three days after these tragic attacks.

Argentineans were going to go to the second and final round;
however, one of the two remaining candidates -- has resigned, or he
will not participate anymore. That means the Governor -- would be
the next President of Argentina, and will be sworn in on the 25th of
May. Any comments --

MR. MCCLELLAN: I think we'll have more to say on that in the near
future, at the appropriate time. So I would look for that.

MR. MCCLELLAN: No, I am not. I just pointed out that he does have
private conversations all the time with legislators, before or after
meetings, sometimes during meetings. I think the President made his
views known when he was asked the question about what's going on in
Texas.

Q Did he have a private conversation with DeLay?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Oh, I think he has private conversations with him
often.

Q Did they discuss the Texas legislature?

MR. MCCLELLAN: I mean, there are regular leadership meetings that
happen here. But I'm not going to get into private discussions from
the podium.

MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, like I said, we have a number of concerns
with regard to Iran. I cannot get into comment specifically on the
news reports. I saw those news reports. But we have long made clear
our deep concern about their biological weapons program, which is in
violation of its obligations under the Biological Weapons Convention.

Our intelligence community has reported publicly that Iran probably
maintains an offensive biological weapons program. They have a growing
bio-technology industry, significant pharmaceutical experience and the
infrastructure to support its program. Iran is actively procuring
dual-use bio-technical materials and expertise. Some of those
materials may have legitimate uses, but we are concerned that they're
seeking them for a biological weapons program. So that is a concern,
and we're working with other governments to strengthen controls on
dual-use biological materials that could be used in biological programs
either in Iran or in other rogue states.

Q Is the uranium program at a point where it can still be
choked off from the outside? Or is it sufficiently advanced that
they're passed that?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, again, I think this is something we're
working with other governments to better control. But it is a
concern.

MR. MCCLELLAN: That is a horrible tragedy. Our thoughts and
prayers are with the families. And we are -- we have a good, close
relationship with Mexico, and these are issues that we do work on with
Mexico. We have taken a number of steps to improve our border
security, to improve our border infrastructure. And this is just a
horrible tragedy.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think that those are questions you can
address to France.

Q On that point, Scott, do you have any information that the
French did, in fact, issue passports to people so that --

MR. FLEISCHER: I think -- no, I think that's a question you
need to address to France.

Q Well, no, it's information the U.S. claims to have.

MR. MCCLELLAN: I don't have anything for you.

Q The President is supporting a blanket lawsuit immunity bill
for the gun industry. This would throw out lawsuits brought by the
victims of the Washington area sniper against the gun dealer in the
state of Washington which sold to the people who were shooting. Why
would the President support such a bill? And would he support blanket
immunity bills for other industries, like the auto industry or the
chemical industry?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Are you talking about the liability bill? We do
--

Q The lawsuit immunity bill.

MR. MCCLELLAN: We do strongly support that legislation. The
President looks at it as a matter of stopping lawsuit abuse, of
stopping frivolous lawsuits. We do not believe a manufacturer of a
legal product ought to be held accountable for the criminal misuse of
that product.

Q But this is with the gun dealer, too, who illegally sold to a
felon.

MR. MCCLELLAN: This is an issue regarding frivolous lawsuits and
abusive lawsuits. And that's the way the President views it.

Q If I could follow up, but would he support blanket immunity
for other industries like the auto industry or the chemical industry?
Just a blanket lawsuit in --

MR. MCCLELLAN: He does not believe that the manufacturer of a
legal product should be held criminally liable -- held liable for the
criminal misuse of that product. That's a principled stand. I can't
get into hypothetical questions about other pieces of the legislation.

Q Scott, back on this rounding up of the Democrats. When then
George W. Bush campaigning for the Oval Office, he said that -- he
cited as an example the bridge that he built between the Republicans
and the Democrats in Texas, and he cited that as an example of how he
wanted to deal in Washington. When did the blood just go bad? What
happened for this situation to occur?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, I appreciate the opportunity to interject
ourselves into state matters, state political matters, but we could do
that across 50 states, and if you would ask me those questions
elsewhere, I'm just not going to do that. I'm going to talk about what
we are focused on and what priorities we're trying to accomplish for
the American people.

Q But apparently the President is focused on that.

MR. MCCLELLAN: I'm sorry?

Q Apparently the President is focused on this --

MR. MCCLELLAN: No, I think he got asked about it the other day,
and he responded to a question about it and said that he had confidence
in the governor and the leadership in Texas.

Q But can you understand why many people -- detractors of
this homeland security situation are having problems with it? Like the
Mayor of Baltimore says the security just isn't there yet, you know,
for first responders; and other people like the Congressional Black
Caucus just saying that it's not right, because it seems like the focus
is on other issues than what is supposed to be.

MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, again, that's getting into some reports that
I am just not familiar with. So I can't get into the specific response
to your question for that very reason. I just don't have any
information about that, and those questions need to be addressed
elsewhere.

Q But you still stand by the statement that it's inappropriate
to use federal resources for what they should not be used for.

MR. MCCLELLAN: I said, federal resources should never be used
inappropriately. I made that clear.

Q Does the President believe the Saudi government and the
people are unified in their professed determination to find and punish
terrorists?

MR. MCCLELLAN: I think some very high-level Saudi officials have
indicated that, that these attacks have only made them more united in
their resolve to work to track down these killers and bring them to
justice, work with us in that pursuit.

Q Do you think the majority of the Saudi people --

MR. MCCLELLAN: I mean, their own comments have indicated that.

Q Do you think the Saudi people -- the majority of the Saudi
people agree with that?

MR. MCCLELLAN: I can't speak for the Saudi people. Those
questions would have to be addressed there.

Q One last one. Does the President want to see a slowdown in
the planned withdrawal of American troops from Saudi Arabia?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Again, those are issues best addressed to the
Pentagon, decisions made by our military leaders, in consultation with
others.

MR. MCCLELLAN: That is a welcome event. That was a historic
treaty that was ratified in Russia. It was previously ratified by the
U.S. Senate, and we're pleased with that move. But we want to work to
address proliferation issues on weapons of mass destruction across the
globe.